Machine for making bolts or the like



Feb. 24, 1970 A. D. HAlNn-:s 3,496,581

Y MAGHINE FOR MAKING Bows 0R THE LIKE Filed March 24, 1966 l 3 Sheets-Sheet l ay MrMsA/A/K feeea/armf, pum/5 ,e meow ,4 r rae/ws Ks Feb. 24, 1970 A. D. HAlNEs 3,496,581

' uc3m: Fon MAKING Bows on THE LIKE mea umn 24. 196e' s sheets-sheet 2 Arran/ns1 United States Patent O 3 496 581 MACHINE FOR MAKING BOLTS OR THE LIKE Allan D. Haines, Tiffin, Ohio, assignor to The National Machinery Company, Tiliin, Ohio, a corporation of ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A combined machine for forming headed and threaded articles is disclosed. It includes a header such as a progressive header or a double blowl header for working headed blanks, an elevator for transferring the headed blanks from the discharge of the header to an orienter, a pointer which receives oriented blanks from the orienter and forms Y.a point thereon, and a threader which roll forms threads on the pointed blanks. *All of the sub assemblies are arranged so that their operation can be observed and monitored by an operator while the operator remains at an operators position. The subassemblies are also arranged so that the operator can obtain gauging samples at the various points in the forming process without leaving-'the operators position so that he can determine if the machine is properly functioning.

This invention relates generally to machines for making bolts, screws, and the like, and more particularly to a novel and improved combined machine operable to produce finished bolts, screws, or the like, from wire or rod stock. A machine incorporating this invention is constructed and arranged so that the machine operator can eiciently monitor the operation of the machine to insure that each of the subassemblies of the machine is properly performing its function.

Combined machines for the manufacture of bolts, screws, and the like, (hereinafter referred to generally as bolts) from rod or wire stock (hereinafter referred to generally as wire) are well known. Examples of such combined machines are illustrated in the United States Letters Patents to Earl R. Frost, No. 2,020,658, John H. Friedman, No. 2,104,944, and to Robert G. Friedman, No. 3,116,499. Such combined machines include a header operable to form headed blanks from wire stock, a pointer operable to point the headed blanks and a threader operable to roll threads on the shank of the blank. In such machines automatic transfer is provided and the pointer and threader operate with a sufficient speed to perform their respective operations on the entire output of the header. Also the blanks are generally maintained in substantially the same sequence as they pass through the machine.

In the past it has been necessary for the operators of such combined machines to move from one location to another around the machine to obtain samples of blanks or finish bolts for gauging purposes. Such gauging is performed to determine if the various subassemblies of the machines are properly performing their operations within permitted tolerances. In some instances it was necessary for the operator to climb a ladder or to climb onto an elevated platform to obtain such gauging blanks or finish bolts. Because of the effort required by the operator t monitor the operation of the prior art machines there has been a tendency, in some instances, for the operator t0 neglect to obtain and guage sample blanks or finished articles with suicient regularity to minimize scrap. In addition, such prior art machines were generally arranged so that the operator was unable to observe the operation of all the various subassemblies from a single location. Consequently malfunction of one or the other of the sub- 3,496,581 Patented Feb. 24, 1970 ICC assemblies could occur without the operators awareness of the fact and it was'necessary to depend upon automatic shutoffs, or the like, to prevent such continued malfunction.

In a combined machine incorporating the present irlvention the various` functioning subassemblies on the machine are arranged so that an operator at a single operating position can easily obtain sample blanks or finished articles for gauging purposes. Also, the machine is arranged so that an operator at a single operating position can observe the functions of the various subassemblies and take corrective action in the eventthat a malfunction occurs. Consequently an improved machine incorporating the present invention results in less operator fatigue and improved operating eiciency. Still further, the structure of the machine, including the component drives, is arranged to reduce machine manufacturing cost.

It is an important object of this invention to provide a novel and improved combined machine for forming bolts and the like from wire stock constructed and arranged so that an operator can obtain samples for gauging purposes without leaving a single operators position.

It is another important object of this invention to provide a novel and improved combined machine, according to the preceding object, constructed and arranged so that an operator can observe the various machine components to determine when a malfunction occurs without leaving the operators position.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a novel and improved machine combining a header operable to form bolt blanks from Wire stock and a threader operable to form threads on such blanks with automatic transfer means between the header and threader wherein the machine is constructed and arranged so that the blanks formed by the header are discharged from the header adjacent to the operators position and wherein the thread bolts are also discharged from the threader adjacent t0 the operators position.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a novel and improved combined machine according to the last preceding object wherein a pointer is provided to point the lblanks formed by the header before such blanks reach the threader.

It is another important object of this invention to provide a novel and improved pointer and threader arranged to receive bolt blanks at an elevated position spaced from an operators position and automatically convey such blanks through the pointer and threader by moving such blanks downwardly along an incline and path extending to a location adjacent to the operators position.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a combined machine for forming bolts, or the like, having a header and threader wherein the header and threader are provided with separate frames and wherein the threader is driven by the header in timed relationship therewith through a flexible drive coupling.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a novel and improved combined machine, according to the last preceding object, having a pointer mounted on the frame of the threader driven in timed relationship by the header.

Further objects and advantages will appear from following description and drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a combined machine for forming bolt blanks incorporating the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the machine illustrated in FIGURE 1; and,

FIGURE 3 is a schematic illustration of paths of blank movement and of the drive connecting the various subassemblies ofthe machine.

`the

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2, the illustrated machine incorporating the present invention ineludes a double blow header operable to form headed blanks from wire stock, an elevator 11 operable to convey blanks formed by the header to a sorter 12, a pointer 13 operable to point the blanks, and a threader 14 operable to form threads on the pointed blank to complete the bolt.

The header 10 illustrated is a double blow header which automatically forms headed blanks for bolts, and the like, from wire stock 16. Such machines automatically cut off measured blanks from the stock 16 and work such blanks in two working strokes, within a single die, to complete a blank having a shank and head. One such machine is illustrated in the United States patent to Robert G. Friedman, No. 3,031,698. Other forms of headers may be used in a combined machine incorporating this invention including other types of double blow headers, as well as machines known as progressive headers which automatically transfer a blank through a series of Work stations and progressively form such blank at each station. The header should be arran-ged to discharge the bolt blanks at a location substantially adjacent to an operators position indicated by a cross 17.

In the illustrated embodiment the headed blanks are discharged from the header 10 down along an inclined chute 18. The chute 18 is open on its top to permit the operator to easily remove sample blanks therefrom for gauging purposes. If desired, a partial or hinged cover can be provided on the chute i8.

rThe chute 18 carries the blanks to the lowered end 19 of the elevator 11. The elevator 11 is driven by a motor 21 (illustrated in FIGURE 2) through a drive chain 22 (illustrated in FIGURE l) and includes an endless belt 23 provided with spaced ites 24. The belt 23 and flites 24 cooperate to form pockets which receive blanks from the chute 18 at 19. These pockets carry the blanks in substantially the same sequence as they are made by the header 10 to the upper end 26 of the elevator 11 where the belt passes over a pulley and the blanks fall down a chute into the sorter 12.

The sorter 12 may be of any suitable type operable to arrange the randomly oriented blanks from the elevator in a predetermined orientation for movement to the pointer. In this predetermined orientation the blanks hang by their heads on parallel tracks 27 with the shank of the blank extending down between the tracks. One suitable sorter is illustrated in the United States Patent No. 3,116,499.

The tracks 27 are inclined at about 30 relative to the horizontal, so that the blanks slide under the influence of gravity downwardly to the pointer 1'3. The illustrated pointer 13 is described in detail in my copending application, Ser. No. 523,744, filed Jan. 28, 1966. Here again, other types of pointers may be utilized providing they are compatible with the remaining portions of the combined machine.

From the pointer 13 the pointed blanks slide down second tracks 28, aligned with the tracks 27, to the threader 14. The illustrated threader functions to automatically roll threads onto the shank of the blank completing the bolt. Reference may be made to United States Letters Patent to Robert G. Friedman, No. 3,139,776, which illustrates the structural details of one roll threader which may be used in this machine.

As best illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3, the tracks 27 and 28 are aligned and inclined relative to the horizontal so that the blanl-s are carried by gravity first to the pointer 13 and then to the threader 14. Similarly, the pointer 13 and threader 14 are inclined so that they operate on blanks moving along an inclined and relatively straight path. With such a structure the orientation of the blanks established by the sorter 12 is maintained until the blanks are threaded and smooth feeding of the blanks is assured. Also, an operator at the operators position 17 can view the movement of the blanks up along the conveyor 11 to the sorter 12 and also as they emerge from the threader 14. The finished bolts are discharged from the threader at 29 substantially adjacent to the operators position 17. Therefore, it is a simple matter for the operator to obtain-a sample finished bolt for gauging purposes without leaving his position 17. In the illustrated machine the finished bolts pass through the door 29 and are collectedin handling means represented by a tote box 32. If desired, a power conveyor may be provided to carry the finished bolts away from the machine for cleaning and packaging.

A control panel 33 is mounted above the header 10 in such a position that can be easily reached by the operator at the operators position 17. The various relays and automatic controls for the machine are located in a panel 34.

In the illustrated machine the header 10 is provided with a frame 36 and the threader with a frame 37. The two frames 36 and 37 are mounted on a single base plate 38 and the pointer 13 and elevator 11 are supported on the frame 37. The Separate frames are easier and more economical to manufacture when compared to a machine having a single frame for all of the subassemblies.

FIGURE 3 schematically illustrates the drive for the header 10, pointer 13 and thread roller i4. The header 10 is provided with a main crankshaft 41 journaled on the frame 36 (illustrated in FIGURES l and 2). A flywheel 42 is mounted on one end of the crankshaft 41 and is preferably driven by an electric motor through a belt drive (not illustrated). The main crankshaft 41 is connected to the header slide 43 of the header 10 by a pitman 44, so that the header slide is reciprocated back and forth, relative to the fixed die 45, through one cycle each time the crankshaft 41 rotates through one revolution. Since the header 10 is a double blow header a single blank is formed each time the header slide performs two working strokes, so a single blank is produced each time the crank 41 rotates through two complete revolutions.

Mounted on the end of the crankshaft 41 opposite the flywheel 42 is the first gear 46 of a gear train 47, consisting of the first gear 46, an idler gear 48 and a driven gear 49. The gear train 47 is arranged to provide a two to one speed reduction so that the driven gear 49 rotates at half the speed of the crankshaft 41.

The driven gear 49 is mounted on a shaft 51 journaled on the frame 36 and is connected through a flexible cou pling 52 to a crankshaft 53 journaled on the frame 37. Because the shafts 51 and 53 are journaled on different frames a flexible coupling S2 is used to connect the two shafts and provides compensation for slight misalignment between the shafts. With this arrangement it is not necessary to precisely locate the frames 36 and 37 and the shafts 51 and 52 relative to each other. This permits greater manufacturing tolerances and reduces cost.

The crankshaft 53 is connected through a drive link 54 to a rocker arm 56 pivoted at 57 on the frame 37. A second drive link 58 connects the upper end of the rocker arm 56 to a reciprocating thread rolling die 59. Consequently, rotation of the crankshaft 53 causes reciprocation of the sliding die 59 back and forth with respect to the fixed thread rolling die 61. The thread roller 14 is provided with a gate, inserter and pusher of the type described in the United States Patent No. 3,139,776, but these elements are not illustrated in FIGURE 3 in order to simplify the drawings. However, three cams 62, 63 and 64 are mounted on the crankshaft 53 and connected to drive the gate, inserter and pusher in proper timed relationship to the operation of the other elements of the thread roller. Here again, the linkage operated by the cams 62 through 64 are not illustrated to simplify the drawings.

Mounted on the end of the shaft 51 opposite the flexible coupling 52 is a sprocket wheel 66 connected through a chain drive 67 to a cam shaft 68 journaled on the frame 70 of the pointer 13. Because the chain 67 is a flexible drive it accommodates slight variations in the position of the shaft 68 relative to the shaft 51, so the manufacturing tolerances of the frame positioning surfaces need not be unnecessarily small.

The pointer as described in my copending application, Ser. No. 523,744, led Jan. 28. 1966, includes four drive cams. These drive cams are illustrated schematically by the cams 71, 72, 73 and 74 mounted on the shaft 68. The cam 71 operates the gripper for gripping the blanks at the pointing station, the cams 72 and 73 reciprocate the cutter spindle 76 and the cam 74 operates the injector for injecting blanks from the track 27 into an indexing dial 77. The drive for the indexing dial 77 is schematically illustrated at 78 and is driven by a chain drive (not illustrated) from the shaft 68. A motor 79 is connected to rotate the cutter head 81 for pointing the blanks.

The operation of the pointer 13 and threader 14 is automatically timed |with the operation of the header 10, since both the crankshaft 53 and cam shaft 68 are driven from the shaft 51 of the header. Since the pointer 13 and thread roller 14 perform a complete operation each time their respective shafts 53 and 68 rotate through one revolution, they operate at the same cyclic rate as the header 10.

In the event that a progressive header is substituted for the double blow header and such progressive header operates to produce a blank each time its crankshaft rotates through one complete revolution the drive shaft 51 would be driven at the same speed as such header crankshaft.

In the event that pointing is not required the pointer 13 may be eliminated and the blanks are then carried by the tracks directly from the sorter 12 to the threader 14. Such a machine, however, would still provide the advantages of the present invention because an operator located at a single position can obtain sample blanks or bolts for gauging purposes without leaving the operators position.

In FIGURE 3 the arrows 86 illustrate the blank movement from the stock 16 through the header 10 and chute 18 to the conveyor 11. Arrows 87 indicate the movement of the blanks by the conveyor 11 along an inclined path upward and away from the operators position 17 to the sorter 12. The arrows 88 indicate the direction of blank movement from the sorter along an inclined path extending downward and toward the operators position 17.

Because operator fatigue is reduced and because the effort required to obtain samples is minimized the operator is more alert and, in practice, tends to gauge samples at more frequent intervals. Since frequent gauging reduces the likelihood of manufacturing bolts which do not meet specification requirements scrap is reduced and operating eiciency is improved. Also, improved eiciency results from the arrangement of the machine, so that the operator can observe the operation of the Various subassemblies including the feeding of stock 16 into the header, the output of the header 10, the movement of the blanks up along the conveyor 11 and the discharge from the threader 14 without leaving his operating position. Therefore, any malfunction of any portion of the machine is immediately determined and corrective action can be immediately taken.

Although a preferred embodiment of this invention is illustrated, it is to be understood that various modifications and rearrangements of parts may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A combined machine for making headed and threaded articles comprising a header including a header slide to form headed blanks from Wire stock and discharge such blanks at a first discharge location, a threader separate from said slide to receive blanks at a supply position spaced from said first discharge location and discharge said blanks at a second discharge location substantially adjacent to said rst discharge location after for-ming a thread thereon, and transfer means to transfer blanks from said rst discharge location to said discharge location to said supply position, said header including a first frame, said threader including a second frame, mounting means securing said frames in predetermined positions relative to each other, and mechanical means driving said threader in timed relation to the operation of said header, said mechanical means including a first shaft journaled on sad first frame, a second shaft journaled on said second frame, and `a flexible drive connecting said shafts, said flexible drive allowing limited displacement of said second shaft from a predetermined position relative to said first shaft.

2. A combined machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein a pointer is provided to point blanks received from said transfer means and deliver pointed blanks to said threader, said pointer including a pointer frame mounted on said second frame, and a mechanical drive between one of said shafts and said pointer driving said pointer in timed relation to said header, said last named mechanical drive including a third shaft journaled on said third frame and a second flexible drive connecting said third shaft and said one shaft.

3. A combined machine as set forth in claim 2 wherein said one shaft is said first shaft.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,020,658 11/1935 Frost 10--27 2,643,402 6/ 1953 Billow 10-4 3,116,499 1/ 1964 Friedman 10-11 3,177,507 4/1965 Becker et al. 10-21 LEONIDAS VLACHOS, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

